During the LaFollette City Council workshop last week, Sexton said he has been scrutinized for working less than part-time hours on some occasions.

He requested the position have fewer restrictions on the hours. A verbal agreement between Sexton and the council to fill the administrative position on a part-time basis was established after David G. Young was terminated from the job. It was agreed Sexton would be paid by the hour.

Sexton said he is working less than 32-hours some weeks and more on others. He doesn’t want to be restricted with a 32-hour workweek.

“Some weeks I work 20 and on one week I may work 50,” said Sexton

The pay difference between 20 hours and 50 hours is significant. The current budget for the city administrator is $36,000. Sexton plans to stay within the budget and plan his hours accordingly, he said.

The budget for the city administrator’s position dropped from $88,000 in the 2009-10 fiscal year to $36,000 this fiscal year. The budget would have to be adjusted if a full-time administrator was hired.

But LaFollette Mayor Mike Stanfield said a full-time administrator is not necessary.

“The city does not need a full-time city administrator,” said Stanfield about the position that previously included an assistant.

By cutting the administrator’s hours in half and eliminating the assistant position the city is saving about $50,000 a year, according to the budget.

“It has been a tough budget year and there is not a lot of money there for a full-time city administrator,” said Sexton.

Sexton doesn’t receive benefits through the city, but receives retirement pay from 30 years of government employment, he said. Retirement benefits allow Sexton to work up to 900 hours a year. At 32-hour work week, Sexton would be working 1,500 hours a year.

At the LaFollette Council meeting on Tuesday Sexton provided the council with an agreement. The agreement outlined the responsibilities of the city administrator and the request to have fewer restrictions on his hours. While Sexton wanted fewer restrictions, the agreement provided him the flexibility to work up to 40 hours a week.

The position is not permanent, as Sexton said he wants to retire. But for now, Sexton doesn’t see the city hiring a full- time administrator in the current budget year.

“We’ve got projects going and I plan on seeing them completed,” said Sexton about staying with the city. “If I have exceeded the $36,000, I’ll continue to work with no pay.”

“If they want to hire a full-time administrator that is their prerogative and maybe I’ll apply,” said Sexton at the meeting this week.

The need for a full-time city administrator will be at the council’s discretion and Stanfield said nothing is permanent.

With no restrictions in hours Sexton could make his schedule within the budget, but at the same time he would not be required to work the same hours weekly.